As firefighters continue to battle the blaze near Yosemite National Park, the town of Tuolumne City lies within striking distance, but some citizens are refusing to leave their homes. NBC’s Tom Costello reports.
By Tracy Jarrett and Daniel Arkin, NBC News
A California wildfire that has scorched an area roughly the size of Chicago near Yosemite National Park was 15 percent contained Monday morning — a jump from 7 percent the previous night, officials said.
But the so-called Rim Fire, stretching 234 square miles, still threatens some 4,500 structures as well as the power and water utilities in San Francisco, roughly 200 miles to the west. It has already charred some 149,780 acres.
The raging flames also loomed over towering sequoias that are among the largest and oldest living things on the planet. The iconic trees can withstand fire, but brutal conditions — including harsh winds and thick brush — have prompted park employees to take extra precautions in the Tuolumne and Merced groves, according to the AP.
“All of the plants and trees in Yosemite are important, but the giant sequoias are incredibly important both for what they are and as symbols of the National Park System,” park spokesman Scott Gediman told the AP.
Fireirefighters were hoping to advance on the flames Monday but strong winds were threatening push the blaze closer to Tuolumne City and nearby communities, according to the wire service.
Jae C. Hong / AP
The Rim Fire has scorched almost 134,000 acres near Yosemite National Park.
“This fire has continued to pose every challenge that there can be on a fire,” said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Some 3,678 firefighters have been drafted in to tackle the fire that continues to threaten thousands of rural homes surrounding the popular tourist destination.
More than 12 helicopters and a half-dozen fixed wing tankers were dropping water and retardant from the air Sunday.
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday declared a state of emergency for San Francisco, saying the fire had damaged the electrical infrastructure serving the city and forced the Public Utilities Commission to shut down power lines.
/
Dry conditions fuel blazes in the U.S.
On Sunday, the fire had moved to within 2 miles of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which serves 85 percent of San Francisco with water, according to San Francisco Public Utilities Commission spokesman Tyrone Jue.
NBC Bay Area reported that the Berkeley Tuolumne Family Camp had been destroyed by flames. It said staff and campers were evacuated beforehand and no injuries were reported. The camp dates to 1922.
NBC Los Angeles noted that the incident was closing in on the record-breaking 145,000-acre wildfire that burned over a three-week period in 1987. At close to 225 square miles, the blaze is more than four times the size of San Francisco.
The fire was sparked last week in a remote canyon of the Stanislaus National Forest, with arid conditions feeding the flames.
Statewide, more than 8,300 firefighters are battling nearly 400 square miles of fires.
NBC News’ Henry Austin and Jeff Black, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related:
This story was originally published on Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:51 AM EDT
Be First to Comment